Grant to help preserve historic Wang Theatre, fund new seats

May 17, 2016

Boston, MA (May 17, 2016) – Citi Performing Arts Center announced today that it will receive a $300,000 grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund to help fund the replacement of all 3,460 seats in the Wang Theatre—which celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2015. For nearly ten years, Cultural Facilities Fund grants have supported important capital needs in the creative sector throughout the Commonwealth. This grant will directly support the Center’s mission of preserving and protecting iconic performing arts venues in Boston.

“We are incredibly grateful to receive this grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and MassDevelopment to help us replace the seats in the Wang Theatre, which have become frayed, worn, and faded in recent years,” said Josiah A. Spaulding, Jr., President & CEO of Citi Performing Arts Center. “This grant will allow us to ensure that our patrons continue to experience world-class live performance programming in a comfortable and safe environment. More broadly, it will ensure that the Wang Theatre continues to be a vibrant destination for local residents and visitors alike, and a driver of our creative economy.”

This capital project will involve completely removing all seats located in the orchestra, mezzanine, and balcony of the Wang Theatre and installing new, state-of-the-art seating. The new chairs will be comprised of all maple wood, with ergonomic features, armrests, and reinforced steel standard platforms for maximum safety and comfort for audiences. In addition, they will include LED aisle lights on end panels to ensure safe sightlines as audiences navigate the venue. Electrical, carpeting, and floor painting work will also be required as part of installation. The total cost of this project is estimated to exceed $1.1 million.

“This project is just one example of the ongoing investments we make to maintain the majestic beauty of the Wang and Shubert Theatres,” added Spaulding. “In total, we’ve invested more than $40 million in our theatres in the last two and a half decades. Support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and from Governor Baker and his Administration is critically important as we work to preserve the history of our venues and keep them fully operational.”

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About Citi Performing Arts Center:
Citi Performing Arts Center, which includes the Wang and Shubert Theatres, is one of the nation’s foremost nonprofit performing arts institutions. As New England’s largest cultural venue, it honors all aspects of the performing arts offering theatre, opera, classical and popular music, comedy, dance, and Broadway musicals. Its education/public programming initiatives present the City Spotlights Leadership Program and ArtWeek Boston. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Boston’s historic Theatre District, Citi Performing Arts Center offers a diverse mix of educational workshops and community activities; collaborates with artists and local performing arts organizations; and, acts as a champion for the arts in the Greater Boston community by aggressively helping to make the arts an integral part of the community’s collective, daily experience. For more information, please visit citicenter.org .